Meet Leslie, MS, RDN
¡Hola! I'm Leslie, a first-generation Mexican-American Registered Dietitian.
I grew up with a complicated relationship with food. With limited control over my environment, I found myself wanting to control food instead. That, combined with a lot of nutrition misinformation I was exposed to at a young age, fed further into an already unhealthy relationship with eating.
By the time preparations for my quinceañera arrived, I felt the same pressure to lose weight that all my cousins had felt before their own special day. As I navigated that pressure, I also kept hearing from practitioners and social media alike that Mexican food was "greasy" and "fattening." Little by little, I gave up the food I grew up on, chasing diet trend after diet trend, and wondering why I wasn't as happy as the people I saw online.
The truth is, mental health can be taboo in some cultures, and it certainly was for me growing up. It was really hard navigating my emotions and my relationship with food in an environment where there was limited knowledge on how to help. I learned that seeking help didn't mean I was broken. You are not broken, and you deserve help from someone who gets it.
Everything changed when I stopped focusing on weight and aesthetics. Instead, I focused on balanced nutrition, healed my relationship with food, learned to trust my body again, and rediscovered my love for the dishes I grew up on.
That mindset shift changed my life in so many ways. I no longer experience food noise. I can enjoy family parties and hang out with my friends without constantly thinking about food. Now, I get to be the dietitian I always needed. And I'd be honored to be that for you too.
My Training/Education
Community Clinic Experience
As a dietitian at an FQHC, I provide Medical Nutrition Therapy for type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, disordered eating, and weight management. I also spent the last year teaching Diabetes Self-Management Education classes in Spanish.
Dietetic Internship and Master’s in Nutritional Sciences(2023-2025)
I completed graduate coursework, a thesis, and 1,100+ supervised hours, including rotations at Banner Estrella Hospital, NOAH (FQHC), and Monte Nido Rosewood (eating disorder treatment).
I conducted a year-long cross-sectional secondary data analysis examining the relationship between food security and type 2 diabetes risk in Latino adolescents with obesity. The project culminated in a 100-page written thesis, data analysis, along with regular meetings and presentations to my committee, and a successful defense in 2024.
Master’s Thesis
Non-Profit Experience
For 2.5 years, I worked in community clinics. First as a volunteer shadowing dietitians at St. Vincent de Paul, then as a Community Health Educator delivering Diabetes Prevention and Self-Management classes to primarily Spanish-speaking communities managing type 2 diabetes.
Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics (2019-2023)
I completed coursework in biochemistry, nutrient metabolism, human anatomy and physiology, organic chemistry, microbiology, medical nutrition therapy, community nutrition, and more.
Why I Became a Dietitian
Healing my own relationship with food and my cultura is what inspired me to help others facing the same struggle. I watched many of my tías and tíos battle health problems while constantly being told to avoid tortillas, rice, and the traditional dishes that connect them to home. That's when I realized my voice was needed in this space.
As a board-certified Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, my goal is to educate and guide our community toward better health and a better relationship with food, without ever sacrificing our roots. I want to help pave the way for the next generation to break free from diet culture and restrictive food messaging passed down through generations.
I've always envisioned creating a safe space for Latina women. Given how underrepresented we are in nutrition and dietetics, and in the medical field as a whole, I want to be that space: one that offers compassionate, realistic nutrition guidance and always meets you where you are.